HABITAT MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYS, PLANT NURSERY MANAGEMENT, AND INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL at DEFENSE FUEL SUPPORT POINT SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA | N62473 24 2 0003

Opportunity Information: Apply for N62473 24 2 0003

This grant opportunity, titled "Habitat Management and Surveys, Plant Nursery Management, and Invasive Species Control at Defense Fuel Support Point San Pedro, California" (Funding Opportunity Number N62473 24 2 0003), is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest under CFDA 12.300 (Natural Resources). It is focused on on-the-ground conservation and habitat stewardship work at the Defense Fuel Support Point in San Pedro, Los Angeles County, California, where two federally listed species occur: the Palos Verdes blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche lygdamus paloverdesensis), listed as endangered in 1980, and the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), listed as threatened in 1993. The project is framed as ongoing conservation implementation tied directly to regulatory requirements and species protection obligations, rather than purely research-driven work.

The work is intended to support and maintain conservation measures consistent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2019 Biological Opinion for routine maintenance operations at DFSP San Pedro (Formal Section 7 Consultation reference FWS-LA-08B0606-08F0704). In practical terms, that means the funded partner would help the installation meet its Endangered Species Act compliance needs while improving habitat conditions for the butterfly and the gnatcatcher. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, the Navy is likely to be substantially involved in coordination, oversight, and alignment with installation priorities and the Biological Opinion, with the recipient carrying out the day-to-day conservation actions described in the statement of work.

The core project components center on native plant propagation and habitat management. A major element is plant rearing of Palos Verdes blue butterfly host plants at DFSP for the butterfly rearing program, which typically depends on having a reliable supply of healthy host plants at the right life stage and season. In addition to butterfly host plants, the project also includes rearing and seed collection of other native plants, which supports broader restoration goals by building a local stock of appropriate native species for outplanting and site recovery. The grant also prioritizes weed control and invasive species control, reflecting the reality that invasive plants can quickly degrade coastal scrub and other Southern California habitats, reducing native plant cover and habitat quality needed by listed species. Habitat restoration is another central task, implying active efforts such as site preparation, planting, and follow-up maintenance to increase native vegetation structure and diversity.

Monitoring and surveys are also explicitly included through vegetative monitoring along established transects. This indicates the site already has a monitoring framework in place, and the awardee would be expected to collect consistent data over time to track habitat condition, restoration success, and vegetation trends. Transect-based monitoring typically supports defensible reporting and adaptive management, allowing managers to assess whether weed control and restoration actions are producing measurable improvements and to adjust methods if targets are not being met. While the short description does not list every deliverable, it signals a program that combines nursery operations, field implementation, and structured monitoring to document outcomes.

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity anticipates a single award, with an award ceiling of $531,982. The opportunity was created on February 23, 2024, and the original closing date for applications was March 26, 2024. Applicants are directed to the separate statement of work for full project details, which would typically spell out performance periods, reporting requirements, specific plant species targets, monitoring methods, acreage or treatment areas for invasive control, coordination expectations with the Navy and USFWS, and required qualifications for staff and nursery/field operations.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a hands-on conservation partnership supporting an active endangered species management program at a Navy fuel support facility. It funds practical, field-based work: producing and collecting native plant material, supporting butterfly host plant supply, controlling invasive species, restoring habitat, and monitoring vegetation conditions in a standardized way to demonstrate progress and remain consistent with the 2019 USFWS Biological Opinion governing routine operations at the site.

• The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HABITAT MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYS, PLANT NURSERY MANAGEMENT, AND INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL at DEFENSE FUEL SUPPORT POINT SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $531,982.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for N62473 24 2 0003

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: